Factors believed by Jordanian acne patients to affect their acne condition.

This study in Jordan described the pattern of acne in 166 untreated acne patients aged 13-42 years attending dermatology clinics and assessed patients' perceptions of factors that have an effect on their acne condition. Family history of acne was positive in 69.3% of acne patients. Emotional stress, hot weather and sweating were believed to be aggravating factors by acne patients of both sexes, and premenstrual factors and cosmetics were factors among women. Many acne patients believed that their acne was exacerbated by certain aspects of diet including nuts, chocolate, fatty food, fried food, eggs, cakes and biscuits, spices and coffee and tea.

Factors believed by Jordanian acne patients to affect their acne condition

This study in Jordan described the pattern of acne in 166 untreated acne patients aged 13-42 years attending dermatology clinics and assessed patients' perceptions of factors that have an effect on their acne condition. Family history of acne was positive in 69.3% of acne patients. Emotional stress, hot weather and sweating were believed to be aggravating factors by acne patients of both sexes, and premenstrual factors and cosmetics were factors among women. Many acne patients believed that their acne was exacerbated by certain aspects of diet including nuts, chocolate, fatty food, fried food, eggs, cakes and biscuits, spices and coffee and tea

Homozygosity mapping places the acrodermatitis enteropathica gene on chromosomal region 8q24.3.

Acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE) is a rare autosomal recessive pediatric disease characterized by dermatitis, diarrhea, alopecia, and growth failure. The disease results from insufficient uptake of zinc by the intestine and can be fatal unless the diet is supplemented with zinc. To map the gene responsible for AE, a genomewide screen was performed on 17 individuals, including 4 affected individuals, in a consanguineous Jordanian family. Three markers-D8S373, D10S212, and D6S1021-had a pattern consistent with tight linkage to a recessive disease: one allele in the affected sibs and multiple alleles in unaffected sibs and parents. Two-point parametric linkage analysis using FASTLINK identified one region, D8S373, with a maximum LOD score >1.5 (1.94 at D8S373: recombination fraction.001). Twelve additional markers flanking D8S373 were used to genotype the extended family, to fine-map the AE gene. All five affected individuals-including one who was not genotyped in the genomewide screen-were found to be homozygous for a common haplotype, spanning approximately 3.5 cM, defined by markers D8S1713 and D8S2334 on chromosomal region 8q24.3. To support these mapping data, seven consanguineous Egyptian families with eight patients with AE were genotyped using these markers, and six patients from five families were found to be homozygous in this region. Multipoint analysis with all consanguineous families, by Mapmaker/Homoz, resulted in a maximum LOD score of 3.89 between D8S1713 and D8S373. Sliding three-point analysis resulted in a maximum LOD score of 5.16 between markers D8S1727 and D8S1744.

Evaluation of pathergy test in North Jordan.

The positivity of pathergy's test in Behçet disease varies throughout the world. We tried to evaluate its diagnostic significance in known Behçet patients in the region of North Jordan. Twenty-two patients were tested, readings were taken after 48 hours. The patients were not tested previously and a comparison between the subcutaneous injection of 0.1 ml normal saline and skin puncture was recorded. The development of a skin eruption (papule, nodule, pustule) were observed and described. The percentage of positivity was 20% in the studied population. The patients tested who were not taking medication at the time of the procedure are more likely to illustrate a positive Pathergy reaction.

Behçet's disease: clinical study of Jordanian patients.

BACKGROUND: Behçet's disease is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory disorder characterized by the triad of oral and genital ulcers and ocular lesions. The etiology is unknown. This is the first report giving details of the clinical manifestations of Behçet's disease in Jordanian patients. METHODS: Twenty patients with Behçet's disease were studied to determine the clinical pattern in the North of Jordan. The patients were seen in Princess Basma Teaching Hospital in North Jordan. They presented to various clinics and underwent full clinical examination. Data for each patient on all features of Behçet's disease were recorded on a standard form. A comparison was made between Behçet's disease in Jordan and other countries in the region. RESULTS: Of the 20 patients, 14 were men and six women, giving a ratio of 2.3:1. Their ages ranged from 14 to 58 years. All had mouth ulcers, 65% genital ulcers, 65% ocular involvement, 55% joint involvement, 35% skin lesions, 20% vascular lesions, and 5% gastrointestinal involvement. The oral ulcers were the first manifestation of the disease process in 70% of our patients. Skin lesions, genital ulcers, and involvement of the central nervous system and the pulmonary system were less frequent in our study. CONCLUSIONS: Although it is difficult to obtain figures as to the incidence and prevalence of Behçet's disease in Jordan, the clinical manifestations, with a few exceptions, are similar to those in other countries in the region.

Oral photochemotherapy in vitiligo: follow-up, patient compliance.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a common, acquired condition of unknown etiology. The only practical treatment for patients with vitiligo is psoralen ultraviolet A (PUVA). No satisfactory method is available to measure the influence of certain factors on the therapeutic response. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with generalized vitiligo were studied for the effectives of PUVA therapy. The comparative study revealed the importance of certain variables (i.e., the proper dose of psoralen, the regular attendance of the patient, and the duration of the treatment). A scoring system had been designed and employed to evaluate these factors. RESULTS: The follow-up of these patients showed that 18 of the 29 completed their treatment. An almost total improvement was obtained in 67% of these patients within 12 months (range 6-18 months). The average number of exposures was 64. A statistically significant difference was obtained between patients with good compliance and those with poor compliance. CONCLUSIONS: The scoring system is a simple practical measure applicable to patients that proved eventually to be very useful for providing more effective treatment and a good response.

The use of A-scan ultrasound in the assessment of small skin tumours.

This study describes the use of A-scan ultrasound for the measurement and characterization of tumour tissue in small skin tumours--basal cell carcinoma, melanocytic naevus, hypertrophic scars and intraepidermal epithelioma. Assessment of the A-scan traces by measurement of: (i) the amplitude of echoes within the area of interest; (ii) the density (number per unit depth) of these echoes; (iii) the regularity of spacing and amplitude of the echoes, and (iv) the amplitude of echoes beneath the area of interest, was used to assist in the differential diagnosis. The results show significant differences in echo amplitude between all the tumours and normal skin. When the tumour A-scan traces were analysed the results indicated that the best discriminating feature between tumours was that of amplitude, followed by regularity, density, non-normalized thickness and finally amplitude of echoes from beneath the tumour. Ultrasound-derived skin thickness measurements were compared to histological measurements for the lesions, and an excellent correlation was found (r = 0.96). It was considered that the A-scan ultrasound investigation of small tumours of the skin was able to provide information on the nature of the tissues contained and may assist in their differential diagnosis.